The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has officially designated September as Ghana’s primary month for tourism. In an interview with Ibrahim Ben-Baku on Joy Prime, Akwesi Agyeman, the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, explained that this decision came after extensive deliberations and analysis.
Mr. Agyeman pointed out that despite March being recognized as Ghana’s heritage month, September hosts a multitude of significant events, such as Yenko Kwaku, various festivals like Fetu Afahye and Asogli Yam festival, and the commemoration of Nkrumah’s birthday, among other festivities. Additionally, September 27th is celebrated worldwide as World Tourism Day. In light of these considerations, the Ministry believed it was fitting to declare September as the official Tourism Month.
Mr. Agyeman articulated, “We realized that even though March is designated as the heritage month, September encompasses World Tourism Day, so let’s transform it into a month filled with vibrant activities. We invite the private sector and traditional councils to collaborate with us once again. So far, our efforts have been highly successful.”
At the launch event, Deputy Tourism Minister Mark Okraku Mantey expressed his commitment to the cause and revealed plans to participate in several festivals scheduled for September, including the Odwira festival. He also advocated for businesspeople to invest in the burgeoning tourism industry, emphasizing that “tourism is currently the most talked-about and exciting sector in Ghana. It presents a lucrative opportunity for businessmen to capitalize on. The impact of December in Ghana has empowered its citizens significantly.”